LTE-WLAN Aggregation Failure Indication Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

The lack of visibility and control over WLAN connections by cellular network nodes in LTE/WLAN aggregation leads to challenges in handling connection failures, affecting the overall performance and reliability of the network.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for terminal devices and network nodes to send and receive failure indication messages when a connection to WLAN nodes in the mobility set fails, allowing the cellular network to adapt and manage traffic steering and aggregation effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If terminal devices operate WLAN connections independently without cellular network visibility, then device autonomy and connection flexibility are improved, but network control capability and failure handling reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection flexibilityVSAvoidfailure handling reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the terminal device reports connection status information to the cellular network node. When a WLAN connection fails, the terminal sends failure indication information back to the network, enabling the network to detect and respond to connection failures. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by maintaining terminal autonomy while ensuring network visibility and control over connection status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If cellular network nodes do not monitor WLAN connection status, then network complexity is reduced, but loss of information about connection failures occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork complexityVSAvoidconnection failure information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs self-monitoring of WLAN connection status and autonomously generates failure indication information when connections fail. Instead of requiring the network to actively monitor and detect failures, the terminal serves itself by detecting connection status and reporting issues to the network. This approach reduces network complexity while preventing information loss about connection failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the terminal device attempts to connect to all network nodes in the mobility set, then connection reliability is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the terminal device reports connection status information to the cellular network node. When a WLAN connection fails, the terminal sends failure indication information back to the network, enabling the network to detect and respond to connection failures. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by maintaining terminal autonomy while ensuring network visibility and control over connection status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10517132B2Terminal devices, network nodes and methods of operating the same

Publication Date: 2019.12.24 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of operating a terminal device, the terminal device being configured to communicate with a first network operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT, and network nodes operating according to a second RAT, wherein the terminal device has a mobility set comprising identifiers for one or more network nodes operating according to the second RAT that can be used for access network selection, traffic steering and/or traffic aggregation, the method comprising on occurrence of a failure condition with respect to a connection to one or more network nodes operating according to the second RAT having an identifier in the mobility set, sending a failure indication message to the first network to signal the occurrence of the failure condition to the first network.